Schools, union reach tentative agreement

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District and Moses Lake Education Association (MLEA) negotiation teams reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

“We’re pleased it has been resolved,” deputy superintendent Monte Redal said Monday. “We can’t discuss the provisions of the agreement until it has been ratified by both parties.”

MLEA is meeting with teachers Thursday to go over contract details.

“I think it will be finalized soon without any hassles,” Redal said. “Both parties walked away pleased with the results. I believe we came to a fair and sustainable agreement.”

MLEA co-president Doug Boole agreed, saying he felt teacher’s voices were heard and taken into account.

“I thought the decision made was fair to both (union) members and the district,” Boole said. “I felt our primary issues brought to the table were considered and most were addressed.”

The tentative agreement contains some changes to the latest contract. The changes include nurse-to-student ratio, bereavement leave, Learning Improvement Day, Professional Development Day, teacher responsibility schedule, Senior Mentoring Day and planning time, according to Boole.

“The contract is about what we were hoping for, with only a couple pieces to address at a later time,” Boole said. “We know the district has to consider a lot of different elements.”

The last contract ended Aug. 31. MLEA members and the district have been bargaining for a new contract since early September, after teachers voted against ratification of a previously proposed contract.

 “We appreciate our teachers who have gone back to school and continued working with students while we have worked on this,” Redal said.

MLEA past contract requests included fair and just treatment, professional compensation and control over the pace of instruction.

“Our main concern we had is the economic climate of our state,” Redal said. “We’ve been trying to resolve this in a fair way, while considering our need for financial sustainability.”

Boole believes teachers will be pleased with contract changes.

“I think our teachers understand the times we are in,” Boole said. “I hope they appreciate and recognize what was negotiated and give it thoughtful consideration.”

If teachers vote to ratify the contract, the next step is for school board members to approve it at the Oct. 8 district meeting.